CVE-2020-15656 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-15656 impacting Mozilla Firefox ESR, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Find out how this vulnerability could allow confusion in optimizations and the necessary mitigation steps.
A vulnerability in Mozilla products Firefox ESR, Firefox, and Thunderbird could allow an attacker to confuse optimizations, affecting versions less than specified.
Understanding CVE-2020-15656
This CVE involves type confusion for special arguments in IonMonkey, impacting Firefox ESR, Firefox, and Thunderbird.
What is CVE-2020-15656?
JIT optimizations related to the Javascript arguments object could lead to confusion in later optimizations, rated as moderate severity.
The Impact of CVE-2020-15656
The vulnerability affects Firefox ESR < 78.1, Firefox < 79, and Thunderbird < 78.1, potentially enabling attackers to exploit the confusion in optimizations.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-15656
This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from JIT optimizations involving the Javascript arguments object, posing a risk of confusion in subsequent optimizations.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Firefox ESR < 78.1
- Firefox < 79
- Thunderbird < 78.1
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability could be exploited by manipulating the special arguments in IonMonkey, leading to type confusion.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protective measures and actions to mitigate the impact of CVE-2020-15656.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update affected products to versions above the specified vulnerable versions.
- Monitor official security advisories for patches and updates.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update Mozilla products to the latest versions.
- Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Apply patches and updates released by Mozilla to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.